Discussion about the Judgment and Categorization of Words’ Cultural Meaning

Abstract

<p>This article aims at a theoretical discussion on the judgment and analysis of words’ cultural meaning at synchronic level based on the comparison between Chinese and English words. In order to judge whether a word has cultural meaning at synchronic level, it is necessary to re-examine the relationship between language and culture as well as the relationship between words and culture. From the perspective of cultural influence, the words’ cultural meaning at synchronic level can be divided into six types of meaning: complimentary and derogatory, structural, combinational, categorical, vacancy and additional meaning. This article illustrates the judgment and analysis of each type by making use of examples before coming to the conclusion that establishing words’ cultural meaning plays a significant role in theoretical research.</p>

本文主要基于汉英词汇对比的方式，对共时层面词的文化意义的判定与类别进行理论探讨。判定一个词在共时层面是否具有文化意义要对语言与文化的关系及词汇与文化关系有重新认识。在此基础上，从文化对词义的共时影响角度出发，词的共时文化意义可分为色彩文化义、结构文化义、组合文化义、类别文化义、空缺文化义、附属文化义六种。确立词的文化意义有一定的理论与应用价值。